Washing machine



G. W. DUNHAM WASHING MACHINE March 1o, 1942.

2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July 24, 1956 fat/ 7 M, .4% l# a W #w w /I J 4 av 4 l Y 3 W L w. W

Attorney.

Inventor lGeo1" Qe`\X/. Dunham',

2 SheetsfSheet 2 Much 10, 1942. G. w. DUNE-mM WASHING MACHINE Filed July 24,V 1936 Inventor Georgew Dunh am, bu T foward Precess/'on Backward Precesson Vaaft Speed ttonerl.;

2,161,618, issued J Patented Mar. 10, 1942 WASHING MACHINE George W. Dunham, Westport,.Conn., lassignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application my 24,1936, serial No. 92.373

(ci. ss-zs) Thepresent invention relates to washing machines of the type having a centrifugal extractor for drying the clothes.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved construction and arrangement in washing machines of this type and, for a consideration of what I believe to be .novel and my invention, attention is directed tothe accompanying description and the claims appended thereto.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a I sectional elevation, partly broken away, of a washing machine embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is 'an enlarged sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing the arrangement for driving the agitator and the rotatable receptacle; Fig. 3R is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the universal joint used to transmit power to the shaft for driving the rotatable receptacle; Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 3 6 of Fig. 4;- Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of the portion of Fig. 1 showing, the manner of securing the rotatable receptacle to the carrier; Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the carrier for the rotatablereceptacle; Fig.- 9 is a sectional plan view ofthe upper end of the agitator showing the-arrangement for holding the agitator on the vertical shaft; Fig. 10 is the plot showing the frequencies of procession of the rotatable receptacle; and Fig. 11 is a sectional elevation of a modification of the arrangement for damping precession of the rotatable receptacle.

The washing machine has a stationary tub which comprises a cylindrical casing I at the bottom of which is soldered a head 2. A stiflening ring 3 is fixed to theinside of the casing below the head 2, so that the depending sides of versal joint II. The arms I 2of theuniversal joint are bolted to bosses I3 on a bracket se-v ,cured to a vertical shaft I4. The gravity thrust of the vertical shaft I4 is transmitted to the shaft 1A through a balll thrust bearing l5.- With this arrangementthe universal joint does not have to withstand any of the gravity thrust. and the friction of the universal joint, which tends to cause shaft whip or in other words forward precession of the shaft, is'decreased. With this construction it is possible to use a simple universaljoint of the type shown,.which may consist merely of a piece of sheet steel provided with two pairs of arms which are connected respectively tothe driving and driven shafts. The'arms of the universal joint are sumciently flexible so that the vertical shaft I4 may have a gyratory movement with respect to the driving shaft 1. The friction in the universal joint is further decreased by the use of metal which has low internal fricl tion compared to fabric.

The vertical shaft .I4 extends through a sleeve I6, the upper endrof which is above the normal water level in the stationary tub. The upper end of the sleeve is provided with a spherical seat for a self-lubricating bearing I1 which guides the shaft 14.v This sphericalseat comprises a .flared portion I8 of the sleeve and a collar I3 which is secured in the upper end of the sleeve.

The spherical seat permits alignment of the bearing I1 with the shaft I4, so that the bearing pressure is uniform regardless of the inclination of the shaft.

The housing 6 forthe driving mechanism has ing the bottom wall of the stationary tub. The

the'casing serve as a base. lThe `upper end of the tub is partially closed by an annular cover 4 which ts within the upper edge of the casing I. The closure of the top of the stationary tub is completed by a cover 5 which rests on the inner edge of the annular cover 4. A splash ring 5 is secured to the casing by a rubber bead i".

The driving mechanism for the washing machine is carried in a housing 3 suitably supported by `the stiiening ring 3. This driving mechanism, which is adapted to effect selective oscillation or rotation of a vertical shaft 1, may

be of any suitable type, for example,` the driving mechansmbwn in my PatentV Number e 6, 1939. Keyed to the shaft,

1 is a brake drum Shaving diametrically opposed bosses 3 to which are bolted arms 13 of a unipost 20 is secured to the bottom wall of the tub r by means of screws 2l which are threaded through a clamping ring 22 into a flange 23 on the post. Leakage from the bottom of the tub is prevented, by means of a rubber sleeve .24 which has its lower edge clamped between the clamping ring 2i and the bottom of the tub and has its upper edge clampedpto the sleeve I6 by means of a clamp 25. y

Within the post 20 is a resilient mounting for the lower end of the sleeve I6 which comprises two cushioning rings 26 of rubber or other resilient material. The lower ring yis, arranged between an inwardly extending :flange 21 at the 'lower end ofthe post and a flange 23 .projecting v from a spherical collar 29 fixed to the sleeve II. The upper ring 23 is arranged vbetween the upper side of the flange 28 and a nut 30 which the flange 21.

`held in a central position and is free to tilt in all directions in order -that the shaft I4 may have av gyratory movement about the driving shaft 1.

The gyratory movement of the shaft I4 is damped by friction members bearing on the spherical collar 29.` 'I'he lower friction member comprises a ring 3I seated on the inner edge of 'I'he outer edge of the ring 3| bears against the inner edge of the lower cushioning ring 26, and the inner edge of the ring 3| is provided with a spherical seat carrying friction material 32 which bears on the spherical collar 29. The upper friction member comprises a ringv33 slidably carried in a sleeve 34 integral with the nut 30. The ring 33 likewise has a spherical seat carrying friction material 35 which bears on the upper side of the spherical collar 29. 'I'he outer edge of the sleeve 34 bears against the inner edge of the upper cushioning ring 26. The pressure between the friction material 32 and 35 and the spherical surface of ring 29 is determined by a coil spring 36 which presses against the upper edge of the ring 33. Since the ring 33 is slidable in the sleeve 34 the pressure on the spring 3B is not transmitted to the rubberrings 26 and therefore does not effect the resilient mounting for the sleeve I6, Also, the pressure exerted on the friction material is not affected by the inclination of the shaft I4. The friction members obviously resist tilting of the shaft I4.

In the upper part of the stationary tub is a rotatable tub or receptacle 31 for receiving liquid andmaterial to be washed. The space between the bottom of the receptacle and the bottom of the stationary tub is suiiicient to provide a storage space for all the liquid which can be placed in the receptacle. The receptacle is made of relatively thin and non-corrosive metal, such as aluminum, so that it is quite light. The side walls of the receptacle arer imperforate and are tapered so that, as the receptacle is rotated, liq- -uid will be discharged over its upper. edge. The

side walls of the receptacle are provided with vanes 38 which increase the: friction between the liquid and the receptacle at the start vof the extracting operation, so that the liquid will be more quickly expelled from the receptacle. At

46 which engages a flange 50 on the receptacle. The nut is provided with a flange 5I which extends underneath the flange 50. The purpose of the flange 5I is to lift the receptacle from the carrier when the nut isunthreaded. This in.

sures the easy release of the receptacle from the carrier.

. With this construction the carrier is not subject to the corrosive action of the washing solution and can therefore be made of a relatively cheap material, such as galvanized steel or cast iron, while the receptacle, which must be made of relatively expensive noncorrosive material, can

be very light. The receptacle can therefore be easily removed' for cleaning. Another advantage cf this construction is that the spacing of the arms 43 to the carrier is sufficient to permit easy access to the bottom and side walls of the stationary tub when the receptacle 31 is removed. This facilitates the cleaning of the tub. Another advantage of this construction is that the annular reinforcing walls 42,-.which are relatively heavy, increase the mass of the receptacle and thereby diminish the amplitude of gyration due to unbalanced distribution of load within the receptacle.

'Ihe carrier is supported on the upper endv of the vertical shaft I4 by a combined sleeve and vthrust. bearing 52 which is held in the upper end ing 52 through the flange 56 to 'a shoulder 51 on theupper edge 'of the receptacle is an annular y guard ring 39 which keeps the clothes within the receptacle during washing and extracting. The

guard ring is provided with perforations 43 through which the liquid is discharged. The top inner edge of the guard ring is provided with a beaded angel4| which presents a smooth surface to the clothes when loading and unloading, and provides a grip for the lifting of the receptacle.

, The receptacle is supported on a carrier (see Fig. 8) having annular reinforcing walls 42 sur-V by v'means of a wing nut 49 threaded on the sleeve 1| the shaft u, and from the shaft' M through the ballthrust bearing I'5- to the shaft 1 which may be provided with an easily lubricated thrust the shaft I4, a snap ring 59 holds the vsleeve 56 .and the parts assembled thereon in fixed relation `to the hub 45, so that these parts are removed as a unit. This allows the bearing 58 to be of minimum diameter, thereby reducing the friction loss, and permits the whole carrier assembly to be lifted off the shaft I4 without disturbing any of the parts.

The splined end of the shaft I4 projects above the sleeve ,56 and has a nut 60 tting thereon which fits within a complementary opening 6I in the hub of an agitator 62, providing a positive driving connection for the agitator. The weight of the agitator is carried on the upper end of the sleeve 56 through a thrust washer 63. The upper end of the hub 45 and the agitator extend above the normal water level in the receptacle, but, during washing, water is sometimes splashed over the upper end of the agitator. Leakage of this water around the shaft I4 is prevented by a cap 54 secured over the upper end of the agitator. Within this cap is carried a wire spring of the configuration shown in Fig. 9. 'I'his spring normally occupies -the position shown in Fig. 5 in which the sides of the spring fit within a groove 65 of the cap, and in which the arms 61 of this spring fit inan annular groove 63 in the upper end of the shaft I4. When in this position, the

, agitator may be lifted from the upper end of the shaft. The arms 61 have suiilcient resilience so that they will be forced apart by the upper end of the shaft I4 when the agitatoris replaced. The lower end of the agitator is guided on the hub I5 by a bearing 10.

The arrangement for connecting the shaft 6 to the receptacle during extracting is the same as that shown in my patent Number 2,161,619, is-

sued June 6, 1939.. In accordance with this arrangement the lower end ofthe sleeve 56dis provided with a squared portion 1I between the flange 55 and a flange 12. Between these flanges are clutch shoes 13 which are held against the squared surface by split rings 14 when the shaft I4 is oscillated at the required speed for washing. Therefore, during this oscillation of the shaft the receptacle will not be connected to the shaft and the agitator will oscillate in the receptacle. When the clothes are to be dried the shaft I4 is rotated. As soon as the speed of rotation exceeds a few hundred R. P. M., the centrifugal force acting on the clutch shoes 13 causes the shoes to be thrown outward. When the shoes make contact with the inner surface of the hub 45 the friction between the shoes and the hub causes the shoes to be displaced relative to the `squared cam surface 1I. 'This displacement causes the shoes to be wedgedbetween the cam surface and the hub, thereby completing a posi` tive driving connection between the shaft and the receptacle. Similarly, when stopping the rotation of the receptacle, for example, by applying a braking force to the brake drum 8,V the shoes collar 29 and the friction material 32 and 35 and to the absence of `external force such as produced by the washing means. Onearrangement for accomplishing this result comprises a. collar 15 pivoted on a sleeve 16 depending from the flange 21. Three pins 11, which are slidably carrie'd in the sleeve 16, extend radially from the sleeve I6 into a groove 1 8 in the collar15. The pins 11 support the collar by engaging a flange 19 on the collar. When the collar is in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 6, there is no clearance between the pins 11, the sleeve I6, and the groove 18, and the sleeve I6 is accordingly held in a vertical position, thus preventing tiltingv of the receptacle during washing. During extracting, the collar 15 is moved by lever 80 to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6. In this position, depressions 8I in the groove 18 provide sufficient clearance torper'mit inclination of the sleeve I6.

At the conclusion of the washing operation, the drivingmechanism is adjusted so that the shaft 1 is rotated continuously in one direction. As soon as the speed of rotation of the shaft 1 is such the centrifugal force of the shoes exceeds that of the retaining springs, the clutch shoes 13 move outwardly under the action of centrifugal force' and touch the inner surface of the hub 45. As soon as the shoes 13 contact the inner surface of the hub 45, Atheir rotation is retarded and the squared surface 1I cooperates with the inner surface of the shoes 13 and -wedges the shoes tightly against the inner surface of the hub 45. This release and immediately wedge in the opposite y direction. This driving connection is dependent upon the torque transmitted through the shaft I4, so that when the torque is removed the shoes may by means of springs 14, be easily returned to their normal position against the squared suri face 1I.

In-the use of the machine, the receptacle 31 is loaded with clothes and filled with a suitable washing solution. The driving mechanism is then adthe-axis of rrotation of the receptacle. The static justedso thattheshaft 1 is oscillated. During this oscillation movement, the receptacle 3-1 remains substantially stationary due to inertia and the oscillation of the agitator relative to the receptacle causes the clothes to be washed. During.

the washing operation, the receptacle 31 may be i tilted to one side due to the fact that the clothes are not uniformly distributed in the receptacle. During the washing operation the bearing loss in the bearings 52 and 58 is negligible due to the low speed of oscillation of the shaft I4.

Since the resilient mounting provided .by the rubber rings 26 is preferably quite weak, the tilting of the receptacle may be sufficient to cause the receptacle to strike the side of the casing I.

Once in this position, the receptacle will tend to' remain there due to the shifting of the "liquid,

V and the friction between the receptacle and 4the .ing washing, thehclding ldevice being released after washing and before starting to dry. The

receptacle willthen remain in a substantially upright position due to th'e friction between the Since the clothes may be nonuniformly dis-i tributed in the receptacle, the receptacle may be unbalanced. This unbalancewill usually consist Ipartially of a static unbalance which is equivalent i to a single weight displaced from the axis of ro- -tation of the receptacle and partially of dynamic unbalance which is equivalent to the couple produced by vertically spacedweights of equal size located on opposite sides of and equidlstant from unbalance will tend to cause gyration of the receptacle about its axis so that the ureceptacle rotates about its center of mass.' The dynamic unbalance will tend to cause tilting of the receptacle so as to bring the receptacle into a position in which there is no unbalanced couple. 'I'he resilient mounting provided. for the lower end of the sleeve I3 permits gyration of the receptacle about its axis so that the receptacle rotates about its center of mass, neutralizing the effect of static unbalance. Since the resilient mounting has some stiness, the gyration of the receptacle about its axis is not sufficient to'permit the receptacle to rotate about its center of mass. but the resilient mounting does permit sufficient gyration of the receptacle to-approximate that position so that the vibration due to static unbalance is considerably decreased. Since the sleeve bearin gs 52 and58 prevent tilting of the receptacle with respect to the shaft I4, the, receptacle will cause vibration due to' the dynamic unbalance. This tendency of the receptacle to tilt causes heavy bearing pressure on the bearings 52 and sure causes no bearing loss. vMostof the force' due to the dynamic unbalance of the receptacle will be transmitted through the universal joint at the llower end of the shaft I4 to the shaft 1.

This force is taken by the bearings in which the shaft 1 rotates. Since the bearings for the shaft 1 are a considerable distance from the receptacle 31, the force on the bearings due to the unbalanced couple isless than it would be at a point nearer the receptacle. This means that the bearing loss due to the unbalanced couple is decreased. Also, these bearings are located below the stationarytub and are therefore not subjected to -the humid atmosphere within the tub and are more easily lubricated. Some of the force due to the dynamic imbalance or unbalanced couple is transmitted to the sleeve I6. However, since this sleeve is reslliently supported, these vibrations are cushioned. The cushioning action decreases the bearing pressure on the bearing Il. and thereby decreases the bearing loss.

During the rotation of the receptacle vibrations are transmitted from the receptacle through the universal joint and the sleeve i6 to the ring 3. Some of the vibrations are shaftfrequency vibrations due to unbalance. These vibrations are particularly great when the speed of the shaft is such that the vibrations are resonant with the natural frequency of the mounting provided by the rubber rings 26. termed the critical vibration of the machine due to this mounting and the speed at which this vibration occurs may be called the mounting critical speed. It is desirable that the speed at which this vibration takes place be substantially below the' normal operating speed, for example less than one-sixth of normal speed, so that the centrifugal forces due to unbalance which' are proportional to to the square of the speed will be relatively small and the reaction on the bearings will not produce so much friction that the receptacle can not be driventhrough the critical speed. In the machine illustrated, the mounting initial speed is one-fifteenth of the normal running speed. In addition to these vibrations, there may be gyroscopic vibrations which result ln precession of the receptacle. Precession is a rotation of the axis of rotation ofthe receptacle and may be forward or backward with respect to the direction of the shaft rotation. Backward precession is due tothe restoring force provided by the rubber rings 26. Forward precession may be due to internal friction in the rotating parts, such as internal friction in the shaft I4 and friction in the universal joint Il. Fbrward precession may alsol result from. unbalanced application of the driving force. Since th'e forward precession tends to damp out backward precession, it is usually the more troublesome. Forward precession is sometimes known as shaft whip." Both forward and backward precession are damped out by the stationary or" non-rotating damping provided by the frictionbetween -the ring 29 and the friction material 32 and 35.and by the internal friction in the rubber rings 26. The forward precession will not build up if the stationary damping force is equal or greaterthan the force exciting the forward precession. One important characteristic of this damper is that it has no lost motion. If lost motionis pres'ent the precession builds up to such a large amplitude that a great deal more damping is required to damp it out. Another characteristic of the damper is that the damping is symmetricsi with respectto the axis of the shaft' 14 and is independent of in lination of the shaft I4. The frequency of precession is of the same order as the mounting critical frequency due to the mounting provided by the rubber rings 26. As the shaft speed increases above the critical speed the This vibration may be frequency of the Jforward precession 'increases slightly and the frequency of the backward precession decreases slightly, both changes being substantially in proportion -to the change in speed.

Fig. 10 is a plot sh'owing the precession frequencies. The gyroscopic vibrations may be of large amplitude. The gyroscoplc vibrations always occur at shaft speeds` above the mounting critical speed. Due to the time required for the gyroscopic vibrations to build up, the gyroscopic vi# brations are usually important only near the normal running speed.

At normal. running speed, the transmission to the floor of vibrations due tounbalance may be decreased by means of a resilient support between the floor and the machine. However, a resilient support which will decrease the transmission to the floor of th'e vibrations due tounbalance at normal running speed is relatively ineffective to decrease the amplitude of the larger amplitude vibrations due to the mounting critical speed or to gyroscopic vibrations. These large amplitude vibrations may be of such magnitude as to cause the receptacle to strike against the tub and damage the machine. The reaction -produced on the bearings by the critical vibrations due to the mounting may be sufliciently large to prevent bringing the-receptacle up to its normal Aoperating speed. It is therefore desirable that 'some` means be provided for damping th'ese large amplitude vibrations. 'I'his damping should be relatively ineffective for vibration of small amplitudes so that it will not increase the transmission of these vibrations.

A supporting arrangement which will decrease the transmission of the vibrations due to unbalance at normal running speed and which will damp the larger amplitude vibrations is shown in Fig. 1. In this arrangement, a plurality of springs 82 are arranged between seats 83 or brackets 84 secured to ring 3 and on caster brackets 85. These springs are chosen so that the naturalfrequency ofthe machine on the springs does not correspond with any frequency of precession.v It is generally preferable to have this natural fre- .quency above the precession frequencies. These springs are arranged at the outer edge of the machine and are resilient in all directions so that the horizontal and vertical components of vibration are cushioned. In parallel with the springs 82 are friction damping means comprising links 86 having a slot -81 ntting over tongues'88 on brackets 84 and having slots 88 fitting over studs 80 on caster brackets 85. 0n the studs 90 on each side of the links 86 are washers 8| which are arranged between shoulders 82 and a coil spring 88.v Damping is provided by the friction between r f 'the'vertical component of vibration is damped.

' vertical vibration. It is also important that the- This is the principal component of vibration transmitted to the floor. It is important that the damping means be unaffected by 'the horizontal component of vibration since any resistance offered to horizontal vibration will produce a reaction which will increase the transmission of the damping means be substantially unaffected by small amplitude vertical' vibrations. Another to assume a position which corresponds to the deiiectionof the springs 82 under the weight of the machine. When the weight of the machine is removed from .the springs 82, for example during shipping, the links 86 hold the springs under tension so that they remain in place.

In Fig. Vllis shown another arrangement for damping precession. As in the previous construction, the resilient mounting for the sleeve I6 is provided by rubber cushioning rings 94, the lower ring being arranged between the flange 21 on the post 20" and a ange 95 ona sleeve 96 secured to the sleeve I6, and the upper ring .being arranged between the upper side of the flange 95 and a nut '91 threaded into the vupper end of the post 20. Friction damping is provided by a disk 99 which is pressed against the upper edge of nut 91 by a disk 99. The pressure on the disk 99 is obtained from springs |09 arranged between the disk 98 and the heads of screws I! threaded into lugs llll2 -on the outside of the post 20. `'Ihe disk 98 is provided with a spherical seat for a spherical surfaced collar |03 fixed to the sleeve i6 so that there is no lost motion between the sleeve I6 and the disk 98. This damping arrangement is also independent of the. resilient mounting for the sleeve I6, that is, the friction damping is independent of the inclination of the sleeve i6.

What I claim as new and desire to secure' by Letters Patent of the United States is: y

1. Ina washing machine having a tub, al rotatable receptacle in the .tub foij receiving liquid and material to be washed, means including a vertical sleeve extending upward from the bottom iof the tub for supporting the receptacle, washing means in said tub, shaft means extending through said sleeve for operating said washing means and for rotating said .receptacle to extract liquid from the material contained therein', means for resiliently supporting 'said sleeve for gyratory movement relative to the tub,` said supporting means being sufficiently resilient so that the sleeve will tend tol assume a tilted position during washing, and stabilizing means engaging said sleeve for ldecreasing the tendency of said sleeve to tilt during washing.

2. In a washing machine having a tub, a ron, in said second sleeve, and a collar surrounding said members and having parts movable into and out of a position engaging said members for preventing radial movement of said members. and thereby holding said iirst sleeve vertical during washing. 4. In combination, a vertical shaft, a mounting for resiliently supporting the shaft for gyratory movement, a rotatable receptacle' adapted to be rotated by said shaft at speeds above the mounting critical speed, a vertical driveshaft, .means for rotating the shaft at a speed above said critical speed and a metal universal joint connecting said'shafts, -said universal Ajoint being of metal having a low internal friction and of the type in which relative angular movement of the by iiexing of the material of the joint.

5. In combination, a vertical shaft, a mounting for resiliently supporting the shaft for gyratory movement, a rotatable receptacle adapted to be rotated by said shaft at speeds above the mounting critical speed, a. driving connection for said shaft including a universal joint' comprising a flexible plate of metal having a lowl internal friction secured to said shaft, and means for f rotating the shaft through said universal joint at a speed above said critical speed. f

6. In combination, a vertical shaft, a mounting for resiliently supporting the shaft for` gyratory movement, a rotatable receptacle adapted to be rotated by said shaft atlspeeds above the mounting critical speed, a driving shaft, means for rotating the shaft at a speed above said critical speed, a thrust bearing for transmitting the load from said first shaft to said drive shaft, and a universal jointcomprising a flexible plate secured tosaid shafts, said plate having an opening therein preventing contact of the plate with said shaftsand bearing. i

7. In a combined washing and drying machine,

.u a vertical shaft, a receptacle for receiving liquid tatable receptacle in the tub for vreceivingrliquid and material to be washed, means including a vertical sleeve extending upward fromv the bottom of ythe tub for supporting the receptacle, washing means in said tub, shaft `means-extending through said sleeve for operating said washing means and for rotating said receptacle to extract liquid from the material contained therein, means for resiliently supporting -said sleeve for gyratory movement relative to the tub, said supporting means being sufficiently resilient so thatthe sleeve will tend to assume a tilted position during washing, members engaging said sleeve, and means preventing radial movement of said members for holding said .sleeve vertical during washing.'

3. In a washing machine having a tub, a ro' tatable receptacle in the tub for receiving liquid and material to be Washed, means including a vertical sleeve extending upward from the bottom of the tub for supporting the. receptacle,

and material to be washed supported-on and f adapted to be rotated by said shaft, means foragitating liquid in said receptacle for washing purposes, a' sleevel in which said shaft is journaledfa member on said sleeve having a spherical surface and a ange projecting therefrom,

-cushioning members engaging said iiange for resiliently resisting tilting of the sleeve and thereby. resiliently centering the sleeve in an upright position, and friction members bearing on said spherical surface for resisting tilting of the sleeve and thereby preventing precession of i the receptacle.

8. In acombined washing and drying machine,

a receptable for receiving material to be Washed, means supporting the receptacle Ifor rotation on a vertical axis, means for effecting washing in the receptacle and for rotating the receptacle at a speed above its critical speed to centrifugally extract liquid fromthe material contained therein, supporting means for resiliently resisting tilting of the axis of rotation of the receptacle whereby washing means in said receptacle, shaft means the receptacle may have a gyratory movement on a vertical axis during extracting. said supporting means being suiiicientlyresilientso that the re? ceptacle tends to assumes. tilted position during 6 l l ."washing, means for holding the receptacle in a central position during washing, saidv holding means releasable during extracting, and friction damping means acting through said supporting means .for resisting said tilting of the axis of rotation of the receptacle.

'9. In a combined washing and drying machine,

a receptacle for receiving material to be washed, bearing means in which the receptacle is journaled for rotation on a vertical. axis, means for effecting washing in the receptacle and for rotating the receptacle at a speed above its critical ing releasable during extracting, and friction y damping means resisting said transverse movement of said bearing means.

10.'In a combined washing and drying machine, a casing, a receptacle in the casing for re-,-

ceiving liquid and material to be washed, a vertical shaft extending upward from the bottom of the casing, means including said vertical shaft for effecting washing in the receptacle and for.

rotating the receptacle to extract; liquid from the material contained therein, means including a bearing engaging said vertical shaft for resilient- 1y supporting the shaft and receptacle for gyratory movement relative to the casing, friction damping means acting through a bearing for the vertical shaft for resisting the tilting movement of the vertical shaft whereby procession of the receptacle during extracting is prevented, a resilient mounting for supporting the machine on a floor or the like such that the natural frequencies of the vibration of the machine onl the mounting is outside the frequencies of precession of the receptacle, and friction damping means for damping the vibration of the machine on saidmounting, said damping means constructed so as to be substantially ineffective for small amplitudes of vibration. 11. In a combined washing and drying machine, a casing,` a receptacle in the casing for receiving liquid and material to be washed, a vertical shaft extending upward from the bottom of the casing, means including a bearing engaging said vertical shaft for resiliently supporting the shaft and receptacle for gyratory movement relative to the casing, means including said vertical shaft for effecting Awashing in the receptacle and for rotating the receptacle at a speed above its critical speed to extract liquidi from the material contained therein, friction damping means acting through` a bearing for the vertical shaft for resisting the tilting movement of the vertical shaft whereby precession of the receptacle during extraction is prevented, and a resilient mounting for supporting the machine on a door or the like such that; the natural frequencies of the vibration of the machine on the mounting is outside the frequencies of precession of the receptacle.-

12. Ina washingmachine having a tub, a rotatable receptacle in the tub for receiving liquid and clothes to be washed, washing means in the receptacle, vertical shaft means extending upward from the bottom of the tub for selectively operating said washing means and for rotating the recepgicle for centrifugal drying, means supporting the receptacle at the upper end of the shaft means, means for resiliently supporting the shaft means for tilting movement relative to the tub, and stabilizing means acting on a part in which the shaft means is journaled for resiliexitly supporting the receptacle for decreasing the tendency of said receptacle to tilt during washing.

13..In a washing machine having a tub, a rotatable receptacle in the tub for receiving liquid and clothes to be washed, washing means in the receptacle, vertical shaft means extending u ward from the bottom of the tub for selectively operating 'said washing means and for rotating the receptacle for `centrifugal drying, means sup` porting the receptacle at the upper end of the shaft means, means for resiliently supporting the receptacle for tilting movement relative to the tub, and stabilizing means at the bottom of the tub for decreasing the tendency of the receptacle to tilt during washing comprising parts cooperating to hold the receptacle one of which is mounted on the bottom of the tub.

14. In a combined washing and drying ma- `lchine, a receptacle for receiving liquid and material to be washed, bearing means. in which the receptacle is journaled for rotation on a vertical ceptacle and for rotating the receptacle at a` speed above its critical speedito extract liquid from the materialf contained thereinfand means for resiliently supporting the machine on a floor or the like such that the natural frequency of the machine on said supporting means is outside the frequencies of precession of the receptacle.

--15.-In a laundry machine, a vertical shaft, a receptacle supported on and adapted to be rotated by said shaft, a sleeve in which said shaft is journaled, a member on said sleeve having a spherical surface and a ange projecting therefrom, cushioning members engaging said flange for resiliently resisting tilting of the sleeve and thereby resiliently centering the sleeve in an upright position, and friction members bearing on said spherical surface for resisting tilting of thev sleeve and thereby preventing precession of the cmrpmm: oF CORRECTION. l i Patent-No. 2,2?5,8L6. March 1o, 191m.

` GEORGE w. ummm.

It is here-by certified that error appears in the 'printedfspec-ification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as fol 1ows :A Pagegj second column, lines 17 and 18, claim 2,'str1ke out "resilientiy supporting the' receptacle fQr"; and thatv the said Letters Patent should beread with' this, correctiontherein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office. l I

Signed and sealed vthis 5th day of May, A.y D. 19h?.

Henry` Vn lArsdale., (Seal) A 1 A A Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

